SEND News
Updates and Guidance for all settings
BeeU Service Update
We are really pleased to update you on how the BeeU emotional wellbeing and mental health service will be supporting children, young people and their families for the year ahead (2024/25).
The BeeU service commissioned by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and delivered by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) provides:
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people (0-25)
- Neurodevelopmental assessments for children – autism for 5-18 year olds, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for 6-18 year olds
- Community Eating Disorder Services for 0-18 year olds
The enhanced offer for 2024/2025:
The way children and young people access mental health services has changed since BeeU was launched in 2017, and the demand on the service has continued to grow significantly in recent years.
We understand this has led to longer waits to access services than we would wish and appreciate the frustration felt by families who are seeking support.
In recognition of this, from April 2024 MPFT will enhance the BeeU service offer, with additional investment from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. MPFT will bolster its capacity by growing the BeeU team, with more registered mental health professionals able to respond to the increased demand; and developing the prevention offer available in schools and communities.
These changes aim to prioritise a reduction in the number of children waiting for an assessment, enabling more timely access to assessment and intervention for children and young people and ensuring they receive the right help, in the right place, at the right time.
Additional support will be available to schools through the successful Mental Health Support Teams (MHST). These teams collaborate with Mental Health Leads in schools to provide targeted support to vulnerable pupils, with the goal of addressing issues at an earlier stage and preventing them from becoming more serious. MHSTs are already working with nearly 50% of schools throughout the county, facilitating swifter access to specialist services and building on support already in place from professionals, such as school counsellors, Public Health school nurses, Children & Young Peoples Social Prescribing, educational psychologists and the voluntary sector. A new team commenced operations in January, focusing on South Shropshire. Moreover, we are pleased to announce that funding has been secured for an additional team, scheduled to commence operations in January 2025, further extending our reach and impact in the community.
New for 2024/25, and supporting the MHST offer, will be the launch of a partnership with SYA, alongside a number of other voluntary and community sector organisations, providing emotional wellbeing services to children in their schools and local communities across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
To find out more about the enhanced BeeU service visit our newly revamped website: https://camhs.mpft.nhs.uk/beeu
Click here for further information
SEND Drop In
Parents, Carers & Families
A new SEND Drop In has been arranged, it provides and opportunity for parents, carers and young people to talk to a SEND Officer. The Drop location has been arranged to enable families to request advice from Future Focus Careers Advisors at the same time, if appropriate.
Time: Every Monday 1pm – 4pm
Venue: Youth Hub (Floor 2), Southwater One, Southwater Square, Southwater Way, Telford, TF4 4JG
Please can we request that this information is shared with your parents, carers and families.
Telford School Nurses
School Nurses are qualified registered nurses or midwives with specialist training and experience, to lead on public health for children, young people and families.
School Nurses offer services to school aged children between the ages of 5 to 19 years old, inclusive of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who attend local state schools some special schools, Alternative provisions and home schooled children.
The School Nursing Service works closely with The Health Visiting Service who work with children and their families aged 0-5 years.
For young people aged 5-19 contact your School nurse- Single Point of Access Tel: 0333 358 3328
Email:shropcom.adminleonardst@nhs.net
Find out more: https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/school-nurses-telford
Health Visiting Service
Health visitors are qualified nurses who have undertaken further training in all areas of child health and development and are skilled practitioners in public health.
The overall purpose is to achieve the best health and well being for children from birth to 5 years of age, by identifying health needs and promoting healthy lifestyles. This includes delivery of health and development reviews, health promotion and parenting guidance tailored to individual risks and protective factors.
General enquiries and appointments:
Tel: 0333 358 3328
Text for Health Advice:
Health Visitor Team
07520 619053
Find out more: Health visiting service (shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk)
ELSA - Emotional Literacy Support Assistants
ELSA is an Educational Psychology led intervention for promoting the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. In Telford & Wrekin we now have a network of 65 ELSAs across primary, secondary and specialist settings. Once again we have achieved the Quality Mark, reflecting our commitment to the highest standards of training and on-going supervision.
ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by Educational Psychologists, who apply their professional knowledge of children’s social and emotional development to areas of need experienced by children and young people. They provide on-going professional supervision to help maintain high quality in the work undertaken by ELSAs, thereby helping to ensure safe practice for ELSAs and children alike.
We are very pleased to be able to offer our programme of ELSA Training again this coming year – sessions will run on six consecutive Wednesdays from 13 September 2023 to 18 October 2023.
For further information please contact ELSA Co-Ordinator Dr Jane Park jane.park@telford.gov.uk
Autism Education Trust - Updates
As an Autism Education Trust Partner, Telford & Wrekin Hub is delighted to share the AET’s new education video. ‘Why Autism is a Difference and Not a Deficit’ highlights strengths and differences that autistic people may experience in three areas of development:
- Social understanding and communication
- Flexibility, information processing and understanding
- Sensory processing and integration
- The aim of the video is to help people to recognise and understand these differences.
- Understanding leads to better support for autistic children and young people in education.
- Central to this, is recognising that the autistic spectrum is not a single line from low to high; it’s a complex combination of many overlapping characteristics.
- There may be some shared characteristics, but every autistic person is unique, with their own strengths, differences and needs.
- Learn more about ‘Why Autism is a Difference Not a Deficit’.
AET Professional Development updates…
The AET Professional Development Programme, supported by the Department for Education, offers nationally delivered face-to-face or virtual training for professionals working with autistic children and young people up to the age of 25.
The Telford & Wrekin hub now offers Good Autism Practice and Making Sense of Autism across Early Years, Schools & Post 16 settings.
Following our very successful roll out of our bespoke Leading Good Autism Practice (LGAP) module for Autism Leads across Telford schools and post 16 settings, we will be offering a further LGAP training session on:
Friday 27 October via Teams – please book via cpd.schoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk
We are offering Making Sense of Autism (MSA) for Governors on:
Thursday 14 March 2024
6.00-7.30pm
via Teams.
Please book via cpd.schoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk
MSA training for whole Governing Bodies can also be arranged by negotiation – please ask.
NEW: The refreshed Post-16 Professional Development Programme offers training and resources to professionals working in various Post-16 settings for autistic young people above 16 years.
Post 16 Making Sense of Autism
For everyone involved in the Post-16 sector who would benefit from having an understanding of autism. This includes ancillary and support staff, office staff, caterers, transport staff, governors, employers and careers advisers.
Post 16 Good Autism Practice
This module is for practitioners and staff working in a range of Post-16 settings, including General Colleges of Further Education, Independent Specialist Providers, Mainstream and Special Schools with Post-16 provision, Sixth Form Colleges, Work Based Learning Providers and Adult and Community Learning Providers.
For settings interested in commissioning Post 16 professional development, please contact AET Lead Trainer Dr Jane Park jane.park@telford.gov.uk
PODS Open Day – Saturday 24 June 2023
Please take a look at the invitation to PODS Open Day and share the information and downloadable poster with your families for PODS (Parents Opening Doors).
Come along and meet the PODS Team at their open day, see their new hub, find out how they can provide support and meet other service providers.
Download: PODS Open Day Poster
The event will take place at the PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, TF2 9TU
For more information please email events@podstelford.org.
PODS – Preparing for Adulthood Navigator Service
PODS (Parents Opening Doors) Parent Carer Forum offer a Preparing for Adulthood Navigator Service for SEND Families for SEND families with young people aged 14-25.
What is Preparing for Adulthood (PFA)?
It is helping a young person get ready for adult life, to become independent and to know where to get help if they need it.
What does a PFA Navigator support with?
- Navigating local service provision and activities.
- Employment, Learning and Higher Education.
- Good Health.
- Friendships, Relationships and Community Inclusion.
- Independent Living/Housing Options.
- Life Skills.
The Journey:
Planning early gives the young person time to make good choices Working with families and young people from the age of 14 to encourage them to share their thoughts and plans for their future with their family and other adults supporting them
How to make a referral:
Referrals can be made by families or by Professionals, please contact Matt@podstelford.org 07305 014358 to find out more.
Download: PODS Preparing for Adult Navigator Poster
Sensory Inclusion Service
Family Fun Open Day
The Shropshire Deaf Children's Society is hosting a family fun day for deaf children and their families supported by the Sensory Inclusion Service on Sunday 11 June 2023.
Lots of families will attend this day with their children and one of the highlights of the day is the awards being presented to children and young people with hearing loss who have worked especially hard this year to overcome the challenges they face. The awards are presented to different children and young people each year – it’s always hard to choose just one person for each category as we are so in awe of all their achievements!
The categories of award are primary age, secondary age, children with complex additional needs and young people in further education.
Well done all of you!
Sunday 11 June 2023
2pm to 5pm
Broseley C of E Primary School
Dark Lane, Broseley TF12 5LW
What's on...
- PJ the Showman
- Climbing Wall
- Bouncy Castles
- Face Painting
- Cakes
- BBQ
- Frankly Alpacas
- and much more.
For more information, contact Nicky Clark 07581035047 or nichola.clark@telford.gov.uk.
Download: Fun Day Flyer
Deaf Awareness Week
To celebrate Deaf Awareness Week (1 to 7 May 2023) , Grange Park Primary in Telford organised a Bake Sale to raise money for Shropshire Deaf Children’s Society. Hazel Snape, Teacher of the Deaf held two assemblies to talk to the children about hearing impairment. The cakes were incredibly popular, raising an amazing total of £327.20. This will help Shropshire Deaf Children’s Society to fund future events for families throughout Shropshire. Sensory Inclusion Service and Shropshire Deaf Children’s Society would like to say a huge thank you to the staff and families at Grange Park Primary for their support
Family Fun Day - Shropshire Deaf Children's Society
Come along and join the fun!
Sunday 11 June 2023
2pm to 5pm
Broseley C of E Primary School
Dark Lane, Broseley TF12 5LW
What's on...
- PJ the Showman
- Climbing Wall
- Bouncy Castles
- Face Painting
- Cakes
- BBQ
- Frankly Alpacas
- and much more.
For more information, contact Nicky Clark 07581035047 or nichola.clark@telford.gov.uk.
Children's Autism Hub
Find out what’s on at the Autism Hub for children, young people and their families.
What’s on at the Children’s Autism Hub
Autism Champion Training
Provided by Autism West Midlands.
Autism West Midlands Autism Champion training is an advisory course providing:
- an overview of Autism
- detail on the challenges experienced by autistic children, adults and their families
- guidance on how you can more effectively support autistic people in your place of work
Grounded practical experience including delivery and feedback from autistic individuals, the course provides a good base knowledge for those looking to improve their overall knowledge in autism and topics related to the autistic experience in various environments.
SEND IASS
Telford & Wrekin SEND IASS have a full programme of workshops and drop in sessions available for families to access.
Talking SEND Sessions
Join our 'Talking SEND' sessions and speak to a fully trained SENDIASS advisor, to book a place please use the link below.
SEN Support Information Session
Increase your confidence to be able to participate more fully in your child's education
Education Health and Care plan Drop In
Increase your knowledge and gain confidence to express your views in relation to the EHCP processes
Book a Place - Talking SEND Sessions
Travel Assistance
New Application Portal
Behind the scenes we have been working hard on a new travel assistance application system. This should make the process of applying, tracking and where eligible, awarding travel assistance much easier for parents/carers.
It is really important that where parent carers and family carers are looking to apply and are eligible for travel assistance from September 2023 then parents do not wait until the summer holidays to apply as this can cause long delays.
We are therefore encouraging all applications for September to be made by 30 June 2023.
Who needs to apply?
- If a child is statutory school age but does not currently receive travel assistance and is eligible then they need to apply.
- If a child is statutory school age, already receives travel assistance and is changing school in September then they will need to re-apply.
- If a child is statutory school age, already receives travel assistance and is not changing school in September then this will carry on next year and there is no need to re-apply.
- If the young person is leaving secondary school and is eligible for travel assistance to help them attend their post 16 setting then they will need to apply.
- If the young person is already in post 16 provision and receives travel assistance then they will need to re-apply. Travel assistance is only granted for one year for post 16 students.
- Parent / carers must also re-apply at any point in the year when you move house.
How to apply:
Applications must be submitted on the council's new travel assistance platform www.travelassistance.telford.gov.uk This has been developed based on feedback received from parents and carers over the last year.
In order to submit an online application, parent / carers will be required to create a new account. Once they have created an account and submitted their application, parent /carers can also log on at any point to see the progress of their application. If parent / carers need support in creating a new account, they can call 01952 384545 (Monday to Friday, 7.15am-5pm).
Apply online for school travel assistance
SEND Working Together Workshop
Please book onto the SEND Working Together Workshop in June to see how the Charter can be used to develop and improve co-production in your school or setting.
Best Practice Guidance and a Self-Evaluation will be shared during the workshop.
15 June 2023
4pm - 5pm
Microsoft Teams
Invitations will be sent to everyone on our contact list for SENCo Network Meetings. If you don't receive an invite to the Network Meetings and would like to attend, please book your place by email: SENDandInclusion@telford.gov.uk.
Annual Review Listings
Annual review listings are being sent out to all schools, settings and post 16
providers, detailing the dates when we require annual reviews to be completed by and returned to the Local Authority.
There has been some changes in how the reports are being presented, a colour coding system has been used to identify when the reviews are due:
- Red – the review is overdue (the due date of the review has already passed and this review is a priority)
- Amber – the review is due in the summer term
- Green – the review is due in the Autumn term or beyond.
- Blue – the review is in process
Please may we request that you carefully check through your listing and let us
know if there are any inaccuracies by emailing
the sendandinclusion@telford.gov.uk.
To support the changes we are planning an Annual Review Workshop and Drop In session on:
Thursday 18 May 2023
4pm - 5pm
Microsoft Teams
Invitations will be sent to all SENCO's on our contact list a week before the workshop, please save the date in your diary.
Independent Travel Training
Independent Travel Training is available to support young people to travel safely, independently and confidently. It usually involves the use of public transport to get to school, college or a work placement. Please take a look at the new video on the SEND Local Offer, Josh shares his experience of Independent Travel Training.
SEND Local Offer – Independent Travel Training
Shout Out Young Person's Group
Shout Out Young People's Group provides an opportunity for young people to have their voice heard and to influence the decisions in Telford and Wrekin.
The group is interested in working collaboratively with schools and post 16 settings. They would like the opportunity to visit school councils and/or parliaments to share information about the group and discuss how they can work together to encourage young people to share their views.
Further developments are underway to strengthen the voice of children and young people in Telford & Wrekin. If you know a young person who is passionate about sharing their voice and would like to make a difference in Telford, please do encourage and support them to join the young persons group.
If your school or setting would like to request a visit to find out more please contact us via email: localoffer@telford.gov.uk.
Shout Out Group - SEND Local Offer
Telford Mind Calm Café for 11-25 year olds
Telford Mind Calm Café sessions aim to provide a person centred and holistic approach to support young people through the challenges that they are facing. There will be activities to engage in, 1:1 support and the opportunity to meet peers facing similar experiences. Free light refreshments are also offered during the sessions.
The sessions are held as follows:
Monday - Brookside Community Centre 4-6pm (13-16yr olds) Tuesday - Donnington Community Hub 4-6pm (13-16yr olds) Thursday - Wellington Boardroom Cafe 4-6pm (16-25yr olds)
Short Breaks Forum
The forum is an opportunity for parents, children and young people that use Short Breaks services, working together with Local Authority colleagues to talk about what is working well, what isn’t and how we can make improvements to the Short Breaks offer. It is a place where we can share knowledge for the benefit of all, including inviting guest speakers on particular issues or services.
Short Breaks Forum Newsletter
The Short Breaks Forum Newsletter - June 2023 is now available to download.
Download: Short Breaks Forum Newsletter - June 2023
Annual Health Checks
Annual health checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability.
An annual health check gives people time to talk about anything that is worrying them and means they can get used to going to visit the doctor.
To help explain what is involved in an annual health check, a group of inspiring young people from Derwen College have created a video to raise awareness of the importance of annual health checks
The video is aimed to help young people with learning disabilities to understand the process of an annual health check in a simple, easy to understand format.
For more information and to watch the video please use the link below.
Message from Shropcom – Advice Line
Please can we remind all schools and educational settings to use the Advice Line for Shropcom prior to making a referral to OT (Occupational Therapy) or SALT (Speech and Language Therapy). The advice line provides a triage service for referrals, including answering enquiries during your call.
Children’s Occupational Therapy
Advice Line
Tel: 01743 450800
E-mail: shropcom.OT4kids@nhs.net
Children’s Speech and Language Therapy
Your Views Matter
EHCNA and Annual Review Feedback Forms
We are updating our Feedback Forms for EHC Needs Assessments and Annual Reviews – please see the new ways that Feedback can be provided by parents and carers.
Education Health and Care Needs Assessments
A new feedback form has been created and will be sent out as a word document with any final plans to parents and families or feedback can be provided online using the link below.
Annual Review Feedback
A short feedback form is available to complete at the end of each Annual Review.
Accessibility Reminders
The Council is required under the Equality Act 2010 to have an accessibility strategy in which it promotes better access for disabled pupils at school.
All schools should have due regard to this Accessibility Strategy and use it to inform their Accessibility Plan that shows how, over time, access to education for disabled pupils will be improved. Schools must publish their Accessibility Plan with links to their SEN Information report on the Local Offer.
Schools are also required to pre-emptively consider accessibility of their site in relation to parents, contractors and other site visitors under their public sector Equality Duty of reasonable adjustment
SEND Local Offer – Accessibility Strategy
Telford & Wrekin Children’s Autism Hub 0-18
The Telford Children’s Autism Hub is available to children and young people aged 0-18 years and their families who have a formal diagnosis of Autism living in Telford and Wrekin. They provide peer support for families, activities for children and young people and their families, training workshops and opportunities for children and young people with autism to aspire, develop and have access to community centred support.
They believe in:
- ” the empowerment of children and young people with autism to live a full and active life “
- “Our work is based around child centred principles focused on building up and celebrating the individual strengths and gifts of each child”
The team are available to listen and explain the hub and what we can offer through a range of support options.
There is also specialist advice available through Autism West Midlands through advice sessions and workshops.
They would love to hear from families, as you are the experts, and we value your feedback to support the future development of the hub. They also sit alongside the Telford Adults Autism Hub. This supports the transition of young people into the support for adults and opens the pathways of support into adult independence.
They already have feedback, and would like to share this with you from a family accessing support.
“The hub provides friendship for us and our daughter. A safe and non-judgemental place where we can access support and our daughter is free to be herself”.
Download: Autism Hub Leaflet
Website: Children's Autism Hub
Download Winter 2022 Newsletter
PODS Referral Form
PODS have recently amended our referral process, professionals are now welcome to fill out the Referral Form to make the process easier, however, you are more than welcome to also contact us to discuss individual cases.
Download: PODS Referral Form
Contact Details:
Phone: 01952 458047
Email: support@podstelford.org
Free challenges at home sessions
Support sessions (for child/young person with Autism with/without diagnosis).
Open to 0-18 years from mainstream and special schools. For families to discuss home/life concerns and seek information and advice from Educational Psychologist team around emotional, behaviour, social, anxieties, routines, etc.
We use these sessions to support families to find solutions together and share experiences and offer mutual support in a safe and supportive place.
Challenges at Home – In Person Sessions
Challenges at Home – Online Evening Sessions
Learn Telford
Learn Telford is part of Telford & Wrekin Council and exists to provide high quality learning opportunities to the people living in the borough.
They aim to widen participation so that as many sections of the community as possible can experience the joy of learning and take advantage of the wider benefits that participation in learning brings, such as improved confidence, reduced social isolation, improved wellbeing, improved social cohesion and increased civic participation.
The Provider Framework for the care and support of people with Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health needs
Telford & Wrekin Council have a framework of care providers to purchase care and support for people with Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental health needs living in the community.